Generate your first Image

Kreator's image generation is the fastest way to bring an idea to life — describe what you want, give it a reference photo, and let an AI model do the rest. For this task, you'll create an image with GPT Image 2 model in landscape 16:9 aspect ratio using a reference image you already have in your library.

This task takes about 3 minutes.

What is image generation?

It's the process of describing an image in a text prompt and letting an AI model produce it for you. Adding a reference image gives the model a visual starting point so the result matches your style, subject, or composition more closely.

Steps

1. Open the image generator

Click the + Create button (top-right of the dashboard, or in the top-right of the Assets page) and choose Image from the dropdown.

You'll land on the Generate Image screen. The form is on the left; your generated images will appear in the gallery on the right.

2. Choose the GPT Image 2 model

In the form on the left, click the Model dropdown and select GPT Image 2.

You'll see a credit cost shown next to the model — that's what each generation will deduct from your balance.

3. Add a reference image

Scroll to the Image References card and click the + tile. From the dropdown, pick one of:

Upload — choose an image from your computer.
Choose from asset library — pick one of your existing assets.
Choose from Actors — use a saved virtual actor's image.
Choose from Products — use a saved product image.

If you don't have anything handy, the easiest path is Choose from asset library and pick the image you uploaded earlier in onboarding.

You can also drag an image directly from the assets gallery on the right into the Image References card.

Your reference will appear as a small thumbnail. If you change your mind, hover over it and click X to remove it.

4. Set the aspect ratio to 16:9

In the row below the style picker, open the aspect ratio dropdown (the one with the rectangle icon, on the right) and select 16:9 — the horizontal/landscape option.

The selected icon should now show a wide horizontal rectangle, confirming landscape orientation.

5. Write a prompt

In the prompt field at the top of the form, describe the image you want. Be specific about subject, setting, mood, and lighting — the reference image will guide the style.

A few examples:

"Minimalist product shot of reference image on a circular concrete pedestal, solid grey background, soft side-lighting, clean composition."
"Light oak wood desk, soft window light, natural props (succulent, notebook), soft leaf shadows."
"Floating, levitating over gradient blue-magenta, conceptual particles around."

If you want help, click Refine at the bottom of the prompt field and Kreator will rewrite it for you.

6. Generate the image

Click Generate Image at the bottom of the form.

A placeholder tile will appear in the gallery on the right while the image is being created. Generation usually takes 15–30 seconds.

How do I know it worked?

You'll know the task is complete when:

A new image appears in the gallery on the right of the Generate Image screen.
The image has a 16:9 (landscape) shape — wider than it is tall.
Hovering the image shows actions (download, favorite, recreate) and confirms it was generated with GPT Image 2 and used a reference.

Tips

Lean on the reference. Mentioning the reference in your prompt ("in the style of the reference," "using the subject from the reference") usually produces a closer match.
Be specific about lighting and setting. "Golden hour, soft shadows, shallow depth of field" beats "nice lighting" every time.
Generate a few variations. Use the number-of-assets control next to the aspect ratio to create up to four images in one go, then pick your favorite.
Pair styles with prompts. The Style card lets you apply a saved aesthetic on top of your prompt — handy for keeping brand visuals consistent across generations.
Reuse the output. Once generated, the image lives in your asset library and can be used as a reference, dropped into a UGC video, edited in the image tools, or downloaded.

Troubleshooting

The aspect ratio dropdown doesn't show 16:9.

Make sure you've selected GPT Image 2 as the model — the available ratios depend on the model. Switching models resets the ratio to Auto, so re-pick 16:9 after changing models.

"Insufficient credits."

Image generation deducts credits from your balance. Add more credits (or upgrade your plan) in your billing settings, then try again.

The Generate Image button is disabled.

You need either a prompt or a reference image (or both). If both are filled in, double-check the model is selected and your credit balance is above the cost shown on the button.

My reference image won't upload.

Reference images must be JPG, PNG, or WebP and under 100 MB. Convert or compress the file and try again, or upload it to your Assets library first and then choose it from there.

The image is taking a long time to appear.

Most generations finish in under 30 seconds. If the placeholder stays for over a minute, refresh the page — completed images will sync automatically, and any that failed will show a retry option. If it still doesn't show after a minute, contact support and we'll take a look.

The output is the wrong shape.

Confirm the aspect ratio dropdown still says 16:9 before clicking Generate. If you change models mid-flow, the ratio may have reset to Auto.

Next step

Return to your onboarding checklist and continue with the next task. Your first generated image is now saved in your asset library and ready to use across the rest of Kreator.